Rifled barrel for firearms



Jan. 21, 1964 J. c. MANSHEL RIFLED BARREL FOR FIREARMS Filed May 17,1961 IIIIIIIIIIDI III INVENTOR. JAc/r C/74/V5HEL United States Patent3,118,243 RIFLED BARREL FOR FIREARMS Jack C. Manshel, R0. Box 186,Palmdale, Calif. Filed May 17, 1961, Ser. No. 110,688 1 Claim. (Cl.4276) This invention relates to rifled barrel for firearms, and includedin the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a rifled barrel for firearms and method of manufacturewherein a relatively thin wall, seamless tubing formed of titanium isrotary forged about a hardened mandrel to form a core which is thenfitted within a preformed aluminum jacket which in turn is encasedwithin a sheath of resin-bonded fiber glass, thereby providing a firearmbarrel which is capable of rapid and extensive use without damage to therifled core and with a minimum of heat transfer through the fiber glasssheath so that the barrel may be hand-held even after prolonged use.

Second, to provide a rifled barrel for firearms and method ofmanufacture, which incorporates flow passages between the aluminumjacket and fiber glass sheath which are ported near the ends of thebarrel, and through which air circulates to aid in cooling the jacketand barrel core.

Third, to provide a rifled barrel for firearms which by the use of twoparticularly inert materials for the interior and exterior walls, thecorrosive effect of powder residue, water, or other matter, which may beformed or enter the barrel core, is minimized, and damage to theexterior of the barrel due to climatic conditions is also minimized.

Fourth, to provide a rifled barrel for firearms which may be reduced toone-third the weight of a conventional barrel while materiallyincreasing its resistance to wear and greatly increasing its usefullife.

Fifth, to provide a rifled barrel for firearms wherein the combinationof a titanium core, aluminum jacket, and fiber glass sheath has adampening effect which reduces the arc of vibration of the barrel.

Sixth, to provide a rifled barrel for firearms which by reason of thefiber glass sheath may have any external color to meet camouflage ordecorative requirements.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of the rifledbarrel for firearms;

FIGURES 2, 3, and 4 are enlarged, transverse, sectional views through2-2, 33, and 4-4, respectively, of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged, idealized view taken through 5-5 ofFIGURE 4, showing the manner in which the cooling passages are formed.

The rifled barrel includes a core 1 which is formed from a relativelythin wall tube of titanium. The core 1 when formed includes a rifledsection 2. and a cartridgereceiving chamber 3. The core is formed byplacing a tubular blank over a mandrel having grooves corresponding tothe rifling ribs and ribs corresponding to the rifling grooves, and alsohaving at one end the dimensions of the cartridge-receiving chamber 3.The blank is then subjected to a rotary-forming operation in such amanner as to squeeze or press the blank into intimate conformity withthe mandrel.

The core 1 is fitted within a jacket 4, preferably of high strengthaluminum alloy. This may be accomplished by preforming and boring thealuminum jacket 4, then inserting the titanium core 1 in a chilledcondition within the jacket which has been preheated. Alternatively, thejacket 4 may be rotary-forged onto the core 1. Either before or afterplacement on the core 1, or if the jacket 4 is rotary-forged while onthe core, longitudinal grooves 5 are formed in the jacket. These groovester- "ice minate short of the muzzle and breach ends of the barrel.

After the grooves 5 are formed, the jacket 4 is covered by a sheath 6formed of fiber glass strands and which may be covered by fiber glasstape. Flexible mandrels 7 are placed in each of the grooves 5. Ends 8 ofthe mandrels are curved outwardly in conformity with the ends of thelongitudinal grooves 5. With the mandrels 7 suitably held temporarily inplace, glass fiber is wrapped around the jacket 4.

In the region of the protruding ends 8 of the mandrels 7, the strands offiber are woven back and forth between the protruding ends so that thefibers run longitudinally between these ends as represented in FIGURE 4,whereas the fibers run circumferentially about the remaining po'rlticonsof the jacket 4 as represented in FIGURES 2 an A suitable resin binderis utilized with the glass fibers so that the fibers are bonded to eachother and to the jacket 4. The flexible mandrels 7, however, are treatedwith a release agent so that they may be withdrawn after the glassfibers have been wrapped about the mandrels and the resin has beencured. On removal of the flexible mandrels 7, end ports 9 are formed atthe extremities of the longitudinal grooves.

In addition to the fiber glass, the surface of the sheath 6 may becovered with one or more layers of glass fiber tape 10, as representedin the transverse sectional views, FIGURES 2, 3, and 4. Prior toapplication of the glass fiber tape 10, the surface formed by thewrappings of glass fiber is sanded or machined to form a smooth surfacefor the glass fiber tape 10.

The breach end of the jacket 4 is internally screwthreaded to receive abreach fitting 11 which covers the rearward portion of thecartridge-receiving chamber 3. The breach fitting is externallyscrew-threaded in the conventional manner for attachment to the actionmechanism of the firearm for which the barrel is intended. The muzzleend of the jacket 4 is externally screwthreaded to receive a muzzlefitting 12. The ends of the sheath 6 preferably abut the breach andmuzzle fittings 11 and 12.

By utilizing titanium a core is provided which is only slightly morethan half the weight of an equivalent core formed of steel. In addition,titanium is capable of withstanding much higher operating temperaturesthan an equivalent core of steel. More specifically, titanium has amelting point above that of steel, and its strength falls off at asubstantially lower rate than steel. Still further, titanium is muchmore resistant to the corrosive effect of powder residue or the eflectof moisture.

The aluminum jacket 4 and the glass fiber sheath 6 are extremely lightas compared to steel so that the completed gun barrel need weigh only athird of the weight of an equivalent steel barrel. By reason of the factthat the titanium core 1 is capable of withstanding elevatedtemperatures and the aluminum jacket 4 forms a substantial heat sink, itis possible to retard radiation through the sheath 6. That is, thesheath 6 may function as a partial insulator thus permitting the barrelto be handled during or after extensive use. The longitudinal grooves 5provide means for circulation of air for the removal of heat, so as toreduce the amount of heat which must be transmitted through the sheath 6itself.

It will also be noted that by use of the sheath 6 formed of glass fibersand resin it may be given any desired color, either for the purpose ofcamouflage or decoration.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details ofthe construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications,and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as comewithin the purview of the appended claim.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHaskell May 24, 1921 Coupland Mar. 22, 1938 Hartley et al. Aug. 19, 1958Wilson May 10, 1960 Sullivan Dec' 27, 1960 Parlanti Apr. 25, 196 1

